God lived with them

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Swami Abhedananda

One day Narendra proposed to the brotherhood that they all take the vows of sannyasa according to the scriptural injunction. All agreed. When Kali told them that he had a copy of the viraja-homa mantras, which he had gotten from a monk in Gaya, his brothers were excited , knowing that this was the Master's divine grace. In the third week of January 1887, they took final monastic vows by performing the traditional viraja homa in front of the Master's picture. Narendra gave Kali the name " Swami Abhedananda."

Swami Ramakrishnananda and Swami Saradananda arranged a private room for Swami Abhedananda in the Alambazar monastery. The monks and the devotees named it "Kali Vedanti's Room" because he spent most of the time there practising meditation and studying Vedanta. Some days after his arrival at Alambazar, Abhedanandaji became terribly ill due to an infection in his feet. His body became swollen and his feet were full of festering boils. The physicians found that Guinea worms had penetrated his feet when he walked barefoot in Gujarat.

Swami Abhedanandaji wrote in his autobiography:" The doctor operated on my feet seven times and I was bedridden for four months. I shall never forget Saradananda's untiring, selfless service to me, as he constantly attended me without caring for food or sleep. later Niranjanananda came and began to nurse me. I lost my power to walk. After three months I began to recuperate. Leaning on Swami Saradanandaji's shoulder, I would walk a few steps a day like a child. Gradually I regained my strength to walk. I shall never forget the love of my brother disciples."